Acetylene tank



F. J. METZGER.

ACETYljENE TANK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1920.

Patented June 13, 1922.

6 @51 @H 0x1 1 2 1 5Z4 HED s'irA-rss FLOYD J. METZGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

rare OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO AIR REDUCTION COMPANY,

INC., A GORPOBA'IIIION OF NE'W YORK.

AcnrYLENE ranx.

T 0 all whomit may concern Be it known that I, FLoYoJ. Merzosn, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene Tanks;

- holds the acetylene in solution until it is reprevents the spread of v quired for use, and I any local decomposition of the acetylene to the remainder of the gas. Such receptacles have been in use for a number of years, and various kinds of porous material have been suggested or used, including charcoal and corn-pith. Probably the most successful material heretofore known has been cornpith, which, because of its resilient and highly porous character, and the relatively small size of the pores, has been successfully used as an absorbent for acetone, acetaldehyde, methylacetate or mixtures thereof, in which the acetylene is dissolved.

As a result of extended research to obtain a material superior to corn-pith, which is diflicultly obtainable. relatively expensive and always contaminated with more or less waste material from the corn stalk,- it has been discovered that the wood of the balsa or ochroma lagopus may not only be substituted for corn-pith, but, in fact, prev sents numerous advantages over corn-pith, and is adapted therefore, to dis lace, the latter material as a filler for acety one storage tanks.

Balsa is a tropical wood, which, either in its natural state or in extensively cultivated areas, is being produced in quantities, and is available for the purpose to which the present invention is directed. The wood of the balsa is similar in appearance to basswood, but is lighter than cork, weighing when d only 7.3 pounds per cubic foot. It is ma e up of barrel shaped, thin walled cells of practically pure cellulose, and is extremely porous, because of-its cellular texturev and substantial absence of fibers from its structum Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1.922

Application filed November 19, 1920. Serial No. 425,089.

When the wood is chipped, or otherwise reduced to a relatively finely divided state, it has a porosity exceeding 90 percent, thus permitting the maximum filling with the solvent acetone, While at the same timeinsuring the presence of the acetone in a galatively finely divided and separated condition, so thatthe acetylene dissolved therein is incapable of propagating decomposition disturbances in the mass. Another peculiarity of this materialis its great elasticity which insures the filling of all of the space within. the tank, and when the acetone is added, the material swells materially, thus preventing any possibility of spaces in which acetylene wbuld be present in a free condition.

The filling may consist entirely of the finely divided balsa, as hereinbefore described, which may be packed directly in the tanks, or it may be molded into blocks of such size and shape as to completely fill the tank. Preferably the finely divided balsa is mixed with a. quantity of inert and porous material such as infusorial earth or charcoal. Asbestos may also be used for this purpose. It may be desirable, moreover, to include in the mixture a cement such as sodium silicate, colloidal silicic acid, glue, albumin, etc.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an acetylene tank in longitudinal section with the filling in place.

In preparing the tank, which is preferably a drawn steel shell 5, the outlet spud 6 and valve 7 are secured in place, and the balsa or composition including balsa is introduced to the tank, and is compressed therein by the use of suitable means capable of applying the desired pressure to the mass. When the tank has been completely filled, and the material is sufiiciently compressed, the bottom 9, having one or more fusible plugs 8, is secured-in place preferably by welding. A suitable quantity of acetone or other suitable solvent is then introduced under pressure preferably in several portions, in order that the acetone may entirel saturate the porous material. When capacity for absorbing acetone,

light, and

1 ture of wood pulp and for similar purposes.

Various changesmay obviously be made in the arrangement of the tank and in the proportions ofthe mixture employed as a filler therein; the basic feature of the pres- ;entinvention being the use of balsa as a filler for acetylene tanks.

the weight of the acetylene tank 7 I claim:

' '1. A tank adapted for the storage of acetylene gas, said tank containing balsa wood in a relatively finely divided condition, and a solvent for acetylene gas.

2. A tank adapted for the storageof acetylene gas, and having an absorbentfilling, consisting substantially of a compressed, resilient body of balsa wood in a relatively finely divided condition, and a solvent for acetylene gas.

3. A tank adapted for the storage of acetylene gas said tank containing wood of the ochroma famil the wood being in a 1 relatively finely divided condition, and asolvent for acetylene gas;

4. A tank adapted for the storage of acetylene gas and containing chips of a light. porous wood and a solvent for acetylene gas.

In testimony whereof I afizrmy signature. FLOYD Jj. METZGER, 

